Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based Law Enforcement
Part Eleven
One of the ways that law enforcement entities could enhance public safety would be to implement routine enforcement of regulations affecting pedestrian-related infrastructure and related environmental factors through Zero-Based Law Enforcement.
Instead of responding to complaints or waiting for a minor difficulty to develop into a larger problem, law enforcement officers would preemptively verify that pedestrian-related infrastructure is in good shape and related environmental factors are appropriate for the circumstances.
Sidewalks are an example of pedestrian-related infrastructure.
Law enforcement officers could walk along each sidewalk in their jurisdiction on a regular schedule to determine if there are any problems. For example, tree branches hanging over a sidewalk that might cause a person to get off that sidewalk because a branch is blocking their way. Another example: ground movement due to tree roots growing or other conditions that have caused sidewalk blocks to be depressed or raised up that might cause a person to trip over the uneven sidewalk blocks.
At intersections, law enforcement officers could verify that the curb cuts are in good condition and that no debris is blocking the sidewalks.
Instead of just walking on sidewalks, law enforcement officers could travel along sidewalks while in wheelchairs. In this way, law enforcement officers could determine if individuals with disabilities who need to utilize wheelchairs would have equal access to the use of sidewalks in their jurisdictions. The use of wheelchairs could highlight difficulties with uneven sidewalks that have not yet reached a level where the conditions would affect most people, but do affect people using wheelchairs.
Law enforcement officers traveling in wheelchairs could also determine if there are barriers to the use of specific sidewalks. For example, utility poles in sidewalks or close to sidewalks, trees or shrubbery adjacent to sidewalks that extend into the right-of-way of sidewalks, or other impediments to access to sidewalks.
Improvements made to accommodate individuals using wheelchairs would also help other individuals who use baby carriages and grocery carts.
After storms have hit a community, law enforcement officers could check on the conditions of sidewalks to make certain that the sidewalks have been cleared in accordance with local regulations.
In areas where snow and ice are common, property owners might have specific time periods by which sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice. Law enforcement officers could verify that sidewalks have been cleared and are safe to use.
Local regulations might also set forth the amount of time property owners have to remove debris after other types of storms – wind storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and similar types of storms – where debris might be blown about. Law enforcement officers could check to see that debris has been removed in the appropriate time periods.
As law enforcement entities do these routine enforcement actions, the law enforcement entities could also develop programs to help some of the property owners with sidewalks that don't meet standards.
There might be individuals who own property who are disabled and not able to easily fix the problems affecting the sidewalks on their properties. There might be individuals with limited household income who might not be able to afford to have the sidewalks fixed on their properties.
Volunteers as well as individuals mandated to perform court-ordered community service could assist some of these property owners with some of their needs. For example, cutting tree branches that overhang sidewalks, removal of snow and ice during a winter storm, and collection of debris that blocks sidewalks after a wind storm.
For larger fixes not able to be completed by these property owners, law enforcement entities could work with their local jurisdictions to have these sidewalks fixed by the local jurisdictions. The costs of the improvements to a specific property could be added as a lien to that property, with the lien to be paid when the current property owners die and the property ownership is transferred to others or when the current property owners sell the property.
Law enforcement entities that follow the principles of Zero-Based Law Enforcement could take actions that help to enhance public safety through routine enforcement of regulations affecting pedestrian-related infrastructure and related environmental factors.
The next news column in this series will focus on how law enforcement officers could focus on surprise inspections of factors that affect people and property through Zero-Based Law Enforcement.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
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